Due Monday

1.  Write the Classification Essay
Remember:  Double space your essay and indent 5 spaces for each new paragraph; failure to do so will result in losing points on your essay.  Also, use proper capitalization for your title and put the title in the correct location.  TYPE your classification essay.  Use the outline from class group discussion to write this essay.

Also, remember in the future that literature summaries (like the ones written for shooting an elephant and little deaths) must be a minimum of 250 words.

Here are some great formatting and outlining techniques that will assist you in ESL 101 and in all future writing classes:    http://www.edu.pe.ca/miscouche/resources/handbook/essay_format.htm

Homework - Due 2/25

Homework 1 - Due Wednesday:  Read the essay again ....... http://202.194.48.102/englishonline/wsjs/dx/21cn/textbks/BOOK4/21RW404B.asp

Fill in the following outline (red areas only) - give examples and explain

I.  Introduction
    Hook - Introduces topic sentence
    Background information or history
    Thesis:  There are many type of teachers; such as, knowledgeable ones, leaders, and buddies.

II.  Knowledgeable Ones
      Expert - give examples and explain
      Facts - give examples and explain
      No Student Interaction - give examples and explain

III.  Leaders
       Dictator - give examples and explain

IV.  Buddies
       Casual and Informal Attitude - give examples and explain
   
V.  Conclusion
   Summarize body paragraphs
   Give some final thoughts to reader or suggestion/tip
   Paraphrase the thesis ... say it again in different words (it can be more than one sentence)

Homework II:  Write an outline for the Classification Essay you will write

 

Homework - Due 2/23/2015

Homework:  Read Chapter 11 in Your Book and do ALL the Book Exercises ... Exploring Writing - Paragraphs and Essays. There will be a short quiz on this chapter in class next week.

Read the Essay: Friends, Good Friends - and Such Good Friends by Judith Viorst
This essay can also be found in your book "MacMillan Reader in Chapter 6 Division-Classification.   http://www.scritub.com/limba/engleza/literature/JUDITH-VIORST-Friends-Good-Fri131122315.php

On a piece of paper answer the following questions:

Questions for Discussion

1.      Does the author really define friendship? How has her definition changed over the years, if any?

2.      How does Viorst's use of the word, we, contribute to the "intimacy" of the essay?

3.      What purpose did the author have in writing this essay?

4.      It is apparent that the essay is directed toward women. (Redbook is a magazine aimed largely at women between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five.) How would Viorst have changed the categories of the essay if it was directed at young men in the same age category? Would her examples have been different?

5.      What effect does Viorst's use of quotations have?

6.      How would you describe the tone of the essay?

Exploring Ideas

1.      What is your own idea of friendship? Give examples from your own experience or from your reading.

2.      Americans seem to value informality and "easy" friendship. Are there disadvantages to such kinds of cultural mores? How does your own society view friendship?

3.      Why do you think some people establish friendships more easily than others?

February 11, 2015

No School - Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
School resumes on Tuesday.

Tonight we started the Process Analysis essay, "How to Make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich."
Homework:  Write the following essay - type it and bring it to class on Wednesday.
Here is the outline for that essay:

I. Topic Sentence/ Hook ........ Have you ever tried a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?
Background / History:  Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were started in the 1920's when military ate them for meals during long stays in the country when practicing for war.  Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches became popular with young children in the 1950's.
You will need = tools:  napkins, plates, knives
You will need = ingredients:  Bread, peanut butter, jelly, honey

II.  Peanut Butter ....... ONLY discuss peanut butter in this paragraph
Define peanut butter (color, how it is made, different types)
List the steps using peanut butter
Warning:  If you use crunchy peanut butter, it might tear the bread

III.  Jelly ....... ONLY discuss jelly in this paragraph
Define jelly - how is made, how many different flavors
List the steps using jelly
Warning:  If you put too much jelly in the middle, it might spill out the sides of the sandwich and make a mess.

IV. Honey ..... ONLY discuss honey in this paragraph
Define Honey - how is it made, color, texture, flavors, how else do we use it .... etc.
List the steps using honey
No Warning in this paragraph

V.  Conclusion
Summarize the body paragraphs
Final thoughts / Give Value
Remember, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich is great when you are in a hurry, don't own a kitchen and need a cheap, fast meal ................

Transitional Words:  Next, finally, then, now last, first, second, before, after

February 9, 2014

Class is canceled due to illness

Homework:
Think of something you know how to do really well.  Or, think of a favorite recipe. Following the information listed below ..... write down the process on a piece of paper and bring it to class on Monday of next week.

How to Write a Process Analysis Essay

Writing a process analysis essay might sound dull, but in fact it’s one of the easiest and most engaging kinds of essays you can write. It gives the reader step-by-step information on how something is done or made, like a recipe or an instruction manual. By the end of the essay, the reader should either be able to perform the process themselves, or understand how the process works. Before you begin you should make sure that you understand the process. You should also know what the reader expects to get from the essay. Do they want to brew their own beer, or do they just want to understand how their favorite beverage gets made?

The good thing about writing a process analysis essay is that the process itself provides the structure for the essay. Each step should have a single paragraph devoted to it. Here’s the structure:

1. Your introduction should tell the reader what the process is and explain why it’s important or interesting. After the introduction, don’t provide any information that isn’t necessary to complete the process. If a recipe calls for kosher salt, tell the reader to add kosher salt. They don’t need to know the origin and history of kosher salt.
2. Next, give a thorough list of all tools or equipment necessary. If the items are uncommon, explain what they are or where the reader might find them. If the reader is going to perform the process themselves, provide warnings about any potential safety hazards. Also, as you go through the steps, think about what might go wrong and how they can avoid common mistakes.
3. Then, explain the steps of the process clearly and in chronological order. Are there some steps that can be performed at various stages in the process? The key is to avoid confusion. With more complicated processes, you might need to subdivide the steps, such as “Step 1a, 1b,” etc. Always write the steps in second person voice (“you”). It’s more direct and personal. You’re going to be using a lot of transitional words and phrases (“next,” “then,” “after,”), so try to very them to keep the essay from becoming repetitive.
4. In your conclusion, briefly review the whole process to help the reader remember it better and make sure they didn’t  miss anything. Something like, “It’s just that simple: first X then Y then Z.”

February 9, 2015

Class is canceled this evening due to illness.  Feel free to call or email with any questions.  We will write the process essay in class Wednesday evening.  Tami Barker 619-203-8870 or email at tamiesl101@gmail.com

February 2, 2015

In Class Essay Written - Personal Narrative

The next essay will be a Process Analysis Essay where you teach someone how to do something - how to do laundry, how to change the oil in your car, how to make a ham/cheese/tomato sandwich.  Read the following essay and Answer the questions at the bottom.  Bring the essay and written answers to class on Wednesday.

How to Make a Sand Castle

For young and old alike, a trip to the beach means relaxation, adventure, and a temporary escape from the worries and responsibilities of ordinary life. Whether swimming or surfing, tossing a volleyball or just snoozing in the sand, a visit to the beach means fun. The only equipment you need is a twelve-inch deep pail, a small plastic shovel, and plenty of moist sand.

Making a sandcastle is a favorite project of beach-goers of all ages. Begin by digging up a large amount of sand (enough to fill at least six pails) and arranging it in a pile. Then, scoop the sand into your pail, patting it down and leveling it off at the rim as you do. You can now construct the towers of your castle by placing one pailful of sand after another face down on the area of the beach that you have staked out for yourself. Make four towers, placing each mound twelve inches apart in a square. This done, you are ready to build the walls that connect the towers. Scoop up the sand along the perimeter of the fortress and arrange a wall six inches high and twelve inches long between each pair of towers in the square. By scooping up the sand in this fashion, you will not only create the walls of the castle, but you will also be digging out the moat that surrounds it. Now, with a steady hand, cut a one-inch square block out of every other inch along the circumference of each tower. Your spatula will come in handy here. Of course, before doing this, you should use the spatula to smooth off the tops and sides of the walls and towers.

Evaluation Questions:

1. What important information seems to be missing from the introductory paragraph? Which sentence from the body paragraph might be placed more effectively in the introduction?


2. Identify the transitional words and phrases used to guide the reader clearly from step to step in the body paragraph.


3. Which piece of equipment mentioned in the body paragraph doesn't appear in the list at the end of the introductory paragraph?


4. Suggest how the single long body paragraph might be effectively divided into two or three shorter paragraphs.


5. Notice that the writer includes two warnings in the concluding paragraph of the essay. Where do you think these warnings should have been placed, and why?


6. Which two steps have been listed in reverse order? Rewrite these steps, arranging them in a logical sequence.